Tree-feller.



P. X. JOHNSON.

TREE FELLER.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.25. 1913.

Patented Dec. 7, 1'915.

l lala //7 Ven or,

COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPH Co..h'AsHlNOTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATEN GFFTCE.

PIERCE X. JOHNSON, F PORTLAND, OREGON,-'ASSIGNORVTO TREE FALLER @cCUTTER CO., .A CORPORATION OF OREGON.

TREE-ratten.

Fellers, of which the following is aspeciii-y cation.

My invention relates to tree fellers, and.

` tudinally thereof, is an adjustmentscrew 7 more particularly tocertain improvements in ythe' type of tree fellers shown and describedin my pending application, filed `December 2,` 1911, under Serial No.663,647, and which improvements are the results of experiments made inconnection with the development and perfection of a machine of thecharacter therein referred to.

ferent from anything shown in vthe art, namely, by means of a smallcutting tool or bit, mountedupon the end of a revolving operating shaft,which is pivotally mounted at its opposite end, whereby to be oscillatedback and forth laterally, andadapted to be advanced longitudinally aftereach oscillation, said cutting tool being driven at a high rate ofspeed, whereby it cuts its way through a tree as it is moved laterallyback and forth in opposite directions and in successively advancedpositions.

The embodiment of the invention which I have shown on theaccompanyingsheet of drawings, andwill now describe, isa practi-y calmachine which has been worked out as a result of many experiments andmuch eX- pense, and illustrates a tree cuttingv device which is simpleand efficient, and which is so small that two men can easily pick it upand carry it by hand from place tovplvace.

In the ydrawings-Figure 1 is a top plan view of a practical embodimentof the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, with parts insection; Fig. 3 is a view of the cutting tool or bit, vwith a portion ofthe operating shaftshown in section; Fig. 4 is an rend view of thecutting tool; Fig. 5 shows a with attaching feet, as 2 2, at its forwardend, kadapted to be spiked to the tree to be out, and with a cross bar 3at its rearward Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led January 25,1913. Serial No. 744,161. y

end, suitably braced,as at 4 4, and adapted to have attached thereto,either above or "below, braceor supporting rods, as 5 5, for holding theframe rigidly in an operating position upon the tree. Said rods arepreferably provided with buckles,.as 6-6, for such adjustments as maybeneeded in making the frame rigid in its operating position.

Rotat'ably mounted in said frame 1, ylongiwith bearings at its oppositeends in the frame 1, as at 8-8, and provided at its rearward end with anoperating crank 9, whereby rit can be manually operated for a purposehereinafter referred to. Movably mounted upon said frame 1, is a slidingbase j or block 10, through a portion of which said With thisinventionfor felling trees I acy complish the result in a manner veryydifylubly ,mounted upon `said sliding base or' block 10 is a plate orturn-table 11,- provided around its under side with gear teeth, as at12, which mesh with a 'gear 13, mounted uponthe lower end of anoperating rod or shaftlli, rotatably supported in the-standard 15, uponsaid sliding block 10, and carrying at its upper end a-hand wheel 16,byr

means of which said revoluble plate ory turn table 11 ycan be turned ineitherk direction at will.` Mounted upon said turn table or plate .11 isa gas engine 17, of the double cylinder type,'with a friction drivewheel 1S upon its crank shaft 19, whichfshaft 19 is supported at itsouter end in a suitable bearing 20, in an arch or bracket 21, mountedupon Athe forward end-or part of the revolving plate or turn table 11.Mounted insuitable bearings 22.22, in a yoke 23, hinged at 24, to

suitable lugs 25-25 upon the turn table 11,

ris a short driving4 shaft 26, which carries a` small friction whe/e127adapted to be adjusted into frictional drivingengagement with the`friction wheel 18. This adjustmentk isy accomplished by means 'of` aset screw 28, Figs. 5 and 6, inr the hinged kyoke 23, wherebysaidsmallfriction ywheel can be moved into and out of `frictionalengagenient with ther friction wheel 18 at will by the turning of saidset screw 2S in one'direc- 'tion .or the other.

IlYIounted upon the forward end yof said revolving plate or turn tablev11, isa tapering frame 29, suitably strengthened, as `at 30, and havingrotatably mountedtherein, in suitable bearings, as at31-31,=an operatingshaft 32, which is connected at its rearward end, by means of a wellknown Oldham coupling 33, to the short driving shaft 26. By means ofangadjustable coupling, 'isa-id operating shaft can be driven fromtheshort driving shaft 26, even though in the adjustment of thesmallfriction wheelA 27, Ythe shaft 26 is moved outy of Yalinement with theoperating shaft 32, said shafts constituting, in effect, atwo-partoperating shaft with Van adjustable coupling therebetween. At itsforward end, said operating shaft 32 is supported in a suitable bearingin theeend of the operating frame 29, as at (31) ,y the forward Send ofsaid operating frame being supported movably between the members of -acurved angle iron guide frameB/t, mounted upon the forward end of themain carryingfframe 1, by means of supporting legs35.

iMounted in the' forward end Vof'theoper- 'ating shaft 32, whichprojectsy slightlygbe- 'at '37, and adapted to be 'screwed into the endof theop-erating shaft 32, internally thread- .'edffor that purpose, asclearly indicated in Fig. 3. Said cutting 'tool or bit 36, is

- formed with its cutting lknives or blades eX- tending in a slightlyspira-led direction v lengthuzise thereof, kas illustrated, and arehollowy ground, 'as clearly indicated lthe side and end viewsv thereof,'3 fand/1.

The operation of the device maybe briefly described as follows :-Thecarrying "frame lisl'spiked to'a tree, as A, at itsforward end, as at2-2, with the supporting or brace rods 5-5, whi'ch run to the rear endthereof,

jspiked to the tree at a distance above, wherebyto support Vthe deviceupon the tree at any desired height. The sliding'fplate yor block 11,carrying the power-furnishing *mechanism, is moved to the rear end of'the'frame '1 'by means of the `adjusting screw 7 and the 'crank 9. Theengine Vis started, and the operator, by means of the hand wheel 16,

turns the revolving plate JorfturnV table first Tin one direction andthen inthe other. and

thereby moves the operatingframe 29 late'rally in opposite directions,as from one side to the other, and therebymoves the cutting tool or bit36, upon the forward end offthe operating shaft 32, into cuttingengagement rwith the tree and it .cuts its way through'the "tree as itis moved thus laterallyfrom one side.y to the other. -After each lateralmovei ment, the operator turnsithe adjusting 'screw lby means of thecrank 9,1:an`d -moves the -sliding ybase or block 10 forwardly forfthelength lof the -cutting tool orbit, `:and-'then "by'means'of the handwheel 16, 'swings the operating frame to the opposite side, in the outAfirst made, thereby 'cutting another "swath'through the tree, asindicated by the dotted lines, in the tree A, Fig. 1. The cutltifng toolor bit is larger in diameter than the thickness of the operating frame29 and Mthe -Ioperating shaft 32, so that both the frame-andtheshaftmoves freely within the cut made by the tool as it is forced laterallythrough the tree in successively advanced positions.A Y y.With myinvention it is possibleto make an under-'cut by dropping therear `end`of fthe. device downwardly, -in vthe manner-indicated yby the,fragmentary Adotted line -posi- ;tion,-shown. in-.Fi-g. 2at- B. Byvmaking `this cutlfirst, and then adjusting the machine tolathorizontalposition, `as shown in. full" lines, .`11`ig.2,.awedgefshaped piece or Vvblock is out nout.. from the .stumpV partofthe-tree instead of `from the tree-itself, leavingy the butt end ofthe treesepiare,y and vat the-same timepro- .vidingl an inclined Ysupporting surface onv the ,stumpffor the -treeto rest `uponas itcfalls.

The. invention, therefore, broadly considered, comprisesA ran operatingshaftv provided imatvitsforwardend with-a cutting tool'or bit f-ofgreaterdiameter than-said shaft, whereby -the shaft: canbe moved freelyin the .cut .madekby said 7tool, with `power-furnishing mechanism vfordriving said, operating shaft vand Ptool,Avv with..mechanism 'foroscillating `said vshaft .la terally and for successively moving--saidshaft and spower-furnishing mechanism forwardly. aftereach `oscillationthereof, wherebyV Said cuttingV toolk cuts away the tree .as itr'ismovedsidewise thereagainst in .successivelyvadvanced positions.

.Lam.aware:that"1changes can be made in the embodiment-of'. theinvention here shown -`andfdescribed .without departing from thespiritthereof,..and Ido not, therefore-limit the [invention tothespecific form thereof herev shown .and described' for purposes ofillustration, .eXceptasI may ,be limited .by fthe heretol appendedclaims, broadly interk.,pijeteril. Y

'I' claim: Y y p 1. In a-.tree'fellenin combination, acarrying "frame, asli-ding .element Ymounted thereupon with; :means for moving the same, arevluble-.element mounted upon Saidslidin'g element, power-furnishing4mechanism upon-said revoluble element, an operating .operatingfshaftand .adaptedto 4cut-a swath through vra-.tree lwhen moved 'laterally`thereag'ains. ,4 n

2.v In atreefeller, in combination, a earrying frame, a sliding elementmounted g shaft with an adjustable coupling therefor,

connected at one end with said power-furnishing mechanism and having itsforward end free to be moved laterally in either direction with the`movement'of said revoluble element, and a cuttingftool or bit upon thefree end of said operating shaft and yadapted to cut a swath through atree when moved laterally thereagainst.

3. In a tree feller of the character referred to, in combination, acarrying frame adapted to be secured to a tree at its forward end, asliding element mounted thereupon with an adjustment screw for movingthe same longitudinally of said carrying frame, a turn-table mountedupon said sliding element, power-furnishing ymechanism upon said turntable, an operating shaft connected to and driven from saidpower-furnishing mechanism and having its' end extended forwardly andfree to oscillate with the revolving movement of said turn-table, acutting tool or bit upon the end of said operating shaft, and operatingmechanism for manually oscillating said operating shaft laterally inopposite directions with the revoluble movement of said turn-table. y

4f. In a tree feller, in combination with a carrying frame and powerfurnishing mechanism, of an oscillating frame movably mounted thereupon,an operating shaft revolubly mounted in said oscillating frame anddriven from said power furnishing mechanism, and a cutting tool ofgreater diameter than the thickness of said oscillating frame and shaftmounted upon the end `of said shaft and adapted to cut its wayl throughsaid tree when moved laterally in opposite directions and atsuccessively advanced positions, said oscillating frame being adapted tomove freely in the cut made by said cutting tool.

5. In a tree feller of the character referred to, in combination with aycarrying frame and power furnishing mechanism, of an oscillating framemovably mounted thereupon, an operating shaft revolubly mounted in saidoscillating frame and having driving connections with said powerfurnishing mechanism, a cutting tool or bit of greater diameter thansaid frame and shaft, mounted in the end of said shaft and adapted tocut through a tree against which it is moved sidewise, whereby saidframe and shaft can be moved freely within said cut, and mechanism forsuccessively advancing said frame, shaft and cutter after eachoscillation, substantially as described.

G. In a tree feller of the character referred to, an oscillating framemounted yto turn upon a vertical axis and of thin vertical construction,an v'operating .shaft` revolubly mounted in said`frame,a cutting toolmounted in the endl of said shaft and of greater diameter than thethickness of said frame,

whereby to cut'a swath through which saidy frame can oscillate, andpower-furnishing mechanism fordriving said shaft andeutting tool. `f Y f7. In a tree feller of the character referred to, a carrying frame, an`oscillating frame of thin vertical form movably mounted thereupon, anoperating shaft revolubly mounted in said oscillating frame,power-furnishing mechanism mountedy to rmove with said frame and havingdriving connection with said shaft, and a cutting tool of greaterdiameter than the thickness of said frame rvertically and `of thediameter of said shaft,

whereby said shaft kand frame will move frely through kthe cut made bysaid cutting too f l 8. In a tree `feller of the character referred to,in combination, a carrying frame, an oscillating frame slidably mountedthereon and adapted to be oscillated laterally, mechanism for movingsaidoscillating frame longitudinally of said carrying frame, an operatingshaft revolubly mounted in said oscillating frame and projectingtherefrom, a cutting tool or bitr mounted in the end of said shaft andbeing of greater diameter than said shaft and the thickness of saidoscillating frame, whereby said frame and shaft can be moved freely inthe cut made thereby, and power-furnishing mechanism for driving saidoperating shaft.

9. In a tree feller of the character referred to, in combination, acarrying frame, an oscillating frame slidably mounted upon said carryingframe, mechanism for moving said oscillating frame upon said carryingframe,

mechanism for oscillating said oscillatingr frame, an operating shaftrevolubly mounted in said oscillating frame, power-furnishing vmechanismmovably supported with said oscillating frame and having directk drivingconnection with said shaft, and a cutting tool or bit mounted upon theend of said shaft at the end of said oscillating frame and being ofgreater diameter thanv rSO lated abouta vertical aXisand a cutting toolon the end ofV said shaftv and of greater 'diameter than said'shaft,whereby said shaft can move freely in thecut by saidl cutting toolas'itis moved. in opposite directions laterally and in successivelyadvanced posi- Ytions 'into said tree.

vment and moving therewith, power-furnishing mechanism mounted ruponsaid revoluble element, an oscillating lframe projecting forvvardly fromsaid 'revoluble element and movable therewith, an operating shaftrevolubly mounted in said oscillating frame and having drivingconnections with ksaid power-furnishing mechanism, a cutting tool or bitmounted on the end of said shaftA at the end ofk said oscillating frame,said tool being of greater diameter or thickness than the thickness vofsaid oscillating frameand shaft, whereby they can be oscillated freelyin the cut made by said tool, and lmechanism foroscillating@saidfrevoluble element, powerfor thefpurpose described.

12.*' A treel feller of the character described, comprising incombination, power furnishing mechanism, an oscillating frame, anoperating shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and driven by saidpower-furnishing mechanism, a cutting tool mounted at the end of saidshaft and having a diameter larger' than the' diameter of said shaft andthe thickness of said oscillating frame,

vsaid cutting tool being adapted to cut its way through a tree as movedlaterally thereagainst, and means for oscillating said frame andoperating` shaft and for advancing them longitudinally, substantially asdescribed. Y y

Y Signed at Portland, Oregon, this 17th day of January, 1913.

' n PrnncEX. m1-nasen.V o

In presence of-,

R; B. FRENCH,

WARREN P. SMITH.

Copies of this patentnmay ybeV obtained for five' cents-each, byaddressing the Commissioner a-Patents.

Washington, D. G5

